Apparatus for maintaining the water-line in steam-boilers.



PATENTED SEPT. 20, 1904.

I G. I. ROGKWOOD. APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING THE WATER LINE IN STEAMBOILERS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18,1901.

N0 MODEL.

7111/1/1/1/0/1/1/ A I I :iIIIlllllIlllllllllllllllllfli] PatentedSeptember 20, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT @rricE.

GEORGE I. ROCKWOOD, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING THE WATER-LINE IN STEAM-BOILERS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 770,314, dated September20, 1904.

Application filed November 18,1901. Serial No. 82,619. (No model.)

To (ti/Z whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE I. RooKWooD, a citizen of the United States,residing at WVorcester, in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatusfor Maintaining the Water-Line in Steam-Boilers, of which the followingis a specification accompanied by drawings, forming part of the same, inwhich Figure 1 represents an apparatus for maintaining the Water-line ina steam-boiler embodying my invention and shown in central verticalsectional view. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the steam-trap forming part ofmy apparatus and shown in sectional view on line 2 2, Fig. 1.

Similar reference-letters refer to similar parts in the different views.

The object of my present invention is to provide an apparatus formaintaining the waterline in steam-boilers, by which the boiler can bemaintained substantially full of water, thereby obviating the necessityof maintaining a large steam-space in the top of the boiler, the waterbeing automatically maintained at a maximum level in the boiler and uponthe level of the steam-pipe leading therefrom with means for separatingthe overflow-water from the steam, whereby the steam is delivered dry tothe engine, and I accomplish these results by means of the. apparatushereinafter described, and set forth in the annexed claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A denotes a boiler, which may beof any usual or known type of construction. In the present instance itconsists of an ordinary upright tubular boiler having vertical flues orpipes A and provided with a burner B or other suitable means by whichheat is applied to the water in the boiler. As near the top of theboiler A as practicable I introduce a pipe C, leading, preferably, fromits side to an auxi-liarychamber, within which the pipe 0, by means ofan elbow C, is extended downward nearly to the bottom of the chamber,forming a steam-separator C the lower end C of the pipe being open. Thepipe C lies in a hori- Zontal plane and enters the boiler just above thedesired water-line and near the top of the boiler, so that steamgenerated in the boiler will pass freely through the pipe C, and as thewater rises above the desired water-line the overflow-water will alsopass simultaneously with the steam through the pipe G into an auxiliaryand separate steam-chamber D, from which the steam product of the boileris taken through a steam-pipe E. The sides C" of the pipe opposite theside wall of the chamber are cut away, so that the depending pipe orseparator C is open on one side and at its lower end. From the top ofthe auxiliary chamber D is a steam-pipe E, leading to the engine. Theboiler A near its bottom is connected with a water reservoir or tank Gby a feed-pipe F, provided with check-valves F, F, and F Between thecheck-valves F and F I place a force-pump of any known and suitable formof construction, in the present instance consisting of a reciprocatingplungerpump H, driven by a crank-wheel H, by which water from the tank Gis forced into the boiler A and against the steam-pressure therein andmaintained at the level of the steam-pipe (1. Leading from the bottom ofthe auxiliary chamber D is a pipe I, by which the auxiliary chamber D isconnected with the interior of a steam-trap J, which communicates at itsbottom through a pipe K with the feed-pipe F between the check-valves Fand F". The opening in the bottom of the trap J is closed by a valve L,connected to a lever M, which is pivoted at one end to a bracket N andcarries at the opposite end a hollow float O. The check valves F, F,and. F are of the usual form of construction and are capable of openingto allow water to flow from the tank G to the boiler A, but close toprevent its return.

WVater is fed to the boiler A by means of the pump H until it reachesthe level of the pipe (1, substantially filling the boiler A. The steamformed in the boiler A passes through the pipe G into the auxiliarychamber D, any water passing through the pipe 0 with the steam beingcarried downward by its own gravity through the separator (J to thebottom of the chamber D, while the steam is delivered through the openside C of the pipe into the chamber D in a dry state to be taken throughthe pipe E to the engine. Wherever an excess of water occurs in thechamber D,

, and the feed-water pipe F behind the checkvalve F the check-valve Fwill become closed by the steam-pressure in the boiler, and the pump Hwill then force the water which has accumulated in the trap J into theboiler, and the overflow from the boiler will be returned to the boilerby the pump. When the Water in the steam-trap J has been carried intothe boiler, the float O will fall by gravity and close the valve L,thereby removing the steampressure from behind the check-valve Fallowing water to be taken from the reservoir G through the pipe F andfed into the boiler by the pump H. The automatic action of opening andclosing the valve L by the presence or absence of water in thesteam-trap J sufficient to lift the float 0 will thereby control thewater-supply to the boiler from the reservoir G and cause the water-lineto be maintained substantially at the lower edge of the pipe 0.

My apparatus is especially intended to be used in connection withboilers for motor-vehicles in which the boiler-space is restricted andthe variation between high and low water mark is limited.

My present invention enables me to carry the boiler substantially fullof water instead of devoting a considerable portion of the boilerspaceto the storage of steam. I employ an auxiliary chamber for steamstorage, and by means of my improved-separating device I am enabled toseparate the water from the steam and deliver the water in a dry stateto the engine. I also utilize the water accumulating in the auxiliarychamber D for the purpose of feeding the boiler, and Ialso automaticallymaintain the water-line at the level of the steam-pipe C leading fromthe boiler by employing a feeding mechanism capable of feeding water tothe boiler slightly in excess of the requirement for making steam andproviding means for automatically returning the overflow back to theboiler.

As the operation of my apparatus contemplates an overflow of water withthe steam into the auxiliary chamber, it becomes necessary to providefor a separation of the water and steam before the latter is taken tothe engine, and any known device can be employed for this purpose.

My apparatus comprises the following elements: first, a boiler with asteam-pipe leading therefrom at or near the top of the boiler,

an auxiliary chamber for the steam, a separating device by which thewater carried into the steam-chamber from the boiler is separated fromthe steam in order to deliver dry steam to the engine, and acommunication between the bottom of the steam-chamber and the feedwaterpipe, said communication being a gravity-actuated trap as determined bythe overflow of water from the steam-chamber.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In an apparatus for maintaining the water-line in steam-boilers, thecombination of the following instrumentalities, a steamboiler, aseparate steam-chamber, a pipe connecting said steam-chamber with saidboiler at its water-line, means for feeding water to said boiler from asource of water-supply and comprising a pump and a check-valve betweensaid pump and the source of water-supply, a steam-pipe leading from saidsteam-chamber, a drip-pipe leading from said steam-chamber to thefeed-water pipe between the pump and said check-valve, agravity-actuated trap by which the passage through said drip-pipe iscontrolled, and a float in said trap whereby the flow of water from saidsteam-chamber will operate to open said drip-pipe, substantially asdescribed.

2. The combination with a steam-boiler, of a separate steam chamber orseparator, a pipe leading from said separate steam-chamber to theengine, means for feeding water to said boiler, a pipe connecting saidsteam-chamber to said boiler, whereby the steam and overflow-water aresimultaneously conducted to said steam-chamber, and means whereby theoverflow and condensed water is automatically returned to the boilerfrom said steam-chamber, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a steam-boiler, of means for feeding water tosaid boiler from a source of water supply, a separate steamchamber, ahorizontal overflow-pipe connecting said steam-chamber with said, boilerat its .top, whereby said boiler is maintained substantially full ofwater, a drip-pipe leading from said steam-chamber to remove theoverflow-water therefrom and a steam-trap whereby the passage throughsaid drip-pipe is controlled, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a boiler, means for feeding water to said boilerfrom a source of water-supply, an overflow-pipe at or near the top ofsaid boiler and leading to a separate steam-chamber, a steam-pipeleading from said steam-chamber, a drip-pipe leading from said chamber,means for automatically return: ing the drip-water from saidsteam-chamber to the boiler and comprising a steam-trap and means forautomatically opening and closing the passage through said drip-pipe asdetermined by the water in said trap, substantially as described.

5. The combination of a boiler, means for IIO feeding Water to saidboiler from a source of Water-supply, an overflow-pipe leading from saidboiler at or near its top to a separate steam-chamber, a steam-pipeleading from said steam-chamber, a steam-separator in saidsteam-chamber, a drip-pipe leading from said steam-chamber, and asteam-trap for automatically returning the drip Water from saidsteam-chamber to the boiler as controlled by the Water in said trap,substantially as de- To scribed.

GEORGE I. ROCKWOOD.

Witnesses:

M. M. SCHUERMANN, RUFUS B. FOWLER.

